Islands are like magnets to me. Some I’ve visited because I was commissioned to write about them, or run workshops on them, others simply because I was curious. Sometimes my notes stay in one of my drawing books, biding their time before they emerge, perhaps in another iteration, or woven into another story. The stamp featuring Jean Grey was a chance find. I didn’t really know who she was, but apparently she has special powers, which I wish I had too. Jellyfish appear on the Hven (aka Ven) drawing because I went swimming from one of its beaches. I’m terribly shortsighted, and suddenly realised I was surrounded by a crowd of beautiful jellyfish, swimming alongside. Luckily the non-stinging type. Or maybe it was island magic. After all, the island, floating in the Oresund between Denmark and Sweden, had once belonged to a 16th century astronomer and magician.
